Healing Fire (13 page)

"I have felt your displeasure
since we left your home." Melor broke the silence first.

"Felt my displeasure," she
mocked, taking her eyes off the road for a split second to aim a deadly glare
in his direction.

"What you did to Rick…"

"Was nothing more than he
deserved. I will not have anyone disrespecting you."

Summer fought to not roll her eyes. "You
can't go around manhandling people like that, even if they are rude. Someone
will call the cops on you and get you arrested."

"The human authorities do not
worry me. I respect their laws while I am in their land, but it will not stop
me from protecting what is mine."

"I am not yours, damn it and
neither is Blossom. If you want to stay in my good books, Mister Melor with no
last name, then you have to cut the alpha male macho crap."

She saw his jaw clench; his eyes
bright with anger. He drew in a slow breath as if trying to stay calm and
patient.

"I have been told many times by
the ladies in Kell that human women are stronger, independent, and do not rely
upon a male for their care or protection. I have been raised to believe it is
my duty to care for and protect my family. Do you want to take away the very
part of me that needs to care for you?"

Damn the man. Suddenly she felt guilty
for berating him. She actually liked the fact he would go all out to protect
her; it made her feel safe and cared for.

"No, Melor, I like that part of
you. It's just you have to be more careful, especially if we are out in public
and someone insults me. Words are just words. Sometimes they can sting, but in
the end they have no power over you unless you allow it."

"Wise as well as beautiful. Truly
the Goddess has blessed me." He leaned over and stroked the side of her
face.

Summer's body responded to his touch.
She almost swerved out of her lane.

"Melor, please, if you keep doing
that, we won't reach L.A in one piece," she scolded, but her voice sounded
breathless.

He pulled his hand away. "You are
tired and need rest. Teach me to handle your car, and I will drive it."

"Somehow I doubt they have
Drivers Ed in Kell," she muttered.

He gave her a blank stare and she
sighed. She was tired after driving for two hours.

"It's sweet of you, Melor, but
without a license, you're not allowed to drive."

"Then we must stop so you can
rest." He laid his large hand along the back of her neck and his fingers
gently massaged into the tense muscles of her neck. Oh God, they felt so damn
good.

"Where did you learn to do that?"
Her voice dropped to a huskier aroused tone. It took all her effort to
concentrate on the road instead of driving them into a ditch.

"A young lady of Kell was once
promised to me. She taught me where she liked to be touched."

"You were once engaged?" A
jealousy gripped the pit of her stomach but ebbed away quickly when she
remembered him telling her about the attack on his people's women.

"If a promise and being engaged
is the same thing then yes."

Summer swallowed. Her heart filled
with sorrow for Melor. Was she really starting to believe him? Still, she
couldn't help but feel for any loss he may have suffered.

"She died in the attack by the
Drac people?"

"Aye," Melor responded, his
fingers working to knead her neck then fell silent.

"You didn't say--I'm so sorry
Melor."

"I thank you for your empathy, my
lady. As you know we all must move on with our lives."

Yes, she certainly understood his
sentiment.

"Did you love her?" Summer
saw a flash of pain and vulnerability in his face. He struggled so hard to hide
at times. She wanted to pull over and just hold him in her arms. Comfort him as
he had her these past few days.

"Aye,
but it does not mean I can never love another." His smiled was warm and
comforting as he removed his hand.

Immediately, she mourned the
comforting heat of his touch. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach, half-hoping,
half-dreading the answer to her silent question.
Do you love me?

Up ahead she spotted a sign for dinner
and a chance to change the subject. "There's a place to eat up ahead. We
can rest there for a while. I want to get a few more miles behind us before we
stop for the night."

~ * ~

Summer
unlocked the motel room, swinging wide the door as Melor carried a sleeping
Blossom into the room. She limped in after him, moving across to the smaller of
the beds and pulling down the cover. Melor gently lowered Blossom onto the bed.
Summer stripped her of shoes and sweater.

"I'll
get the bags." Melor kept his voice low and hushed, so not to wake the
sleeping child then he disappeared out the door.

Summer
gently removed Blossom's skirt and leggings before covering her with the
blankets.

Melor
re-appeared, carrying two bags and the large stuffed rabbit he'd won for
Blossom at a San Mateo County Fair.
 

The
vendor complained bitterly when Melor struck the lever so hard with the mallet
that the puck shot up and broke the bell.

Blossom
thoroughly enjoyed herself, along with Melor, who delighted in the array of
entertainments. Although Summer couldn't participate in many of the events, she
smiled and waved as Melor walked Blossom around on the pony, declaring she
would enjoy riding the Stags of Kell better than a pony. She laughed and called
him crazy, but he was 'her' crazy man.

"Thank
you." She stroked Melor's arm, as she couldn't reach far up enough to kiss
his cheek. She grabbed one case that he had placed on the motel table and
unzipped it, fishing a nightgown out of it.

"I
think I could sleep for a week after keeping up with Blossom."

"Aye,
she has the energy of a Kell crystal." His smile was one of loving
fondness as he gazed at her sleeping daughter.

The
end of the bed dipped with Melor's weight as he sat down and pulled off his
boots.

Summer
limped towards the bathroom. "I'm going to have a shower."

He
rose to his feet, stalking towards her. "Aye, my lady, it is a very good
idea indeed."

Summer
bit back a squeal, as he swept her off her feet and into the bathroom, closing
the door quietly, firmly.

He
set her down and nuzzled into her neck, licking at her skin, sending heat
running through her body.

"We
can't, not here, Blossom is…"

"Asleep.
We shall have to try and contain our sounds of pleasure." He lifted his
head, his dark eyes pools of deep desire melting her every resistance.

"Strip."
He moved away, twisting the knobs of the shower. She laid her nightgown over
the sink and gripped the hem of her top, pulling it up and off. She toed off
her shoes before hooking her thumbs into the waist band of her jeans and
sliding them down her legs.

"Hummm,
such beauty do I behold." Melor's gaze roamed over her body, lustily
making the heat rush into her cheeks.

He
pushed down his pants and stood before her in all his beautiful naked glory
before lowering himself onto one knee to run his hand up her legs and hips. He
hooked his index fingers into her panties and slid them down over her legs,
leaning forward to press kisses against her stomach.

Summer
reached around and unhooked her bra, shouldering it off and tossing it aside.
Her hands slid through his silken hair. Melor wrapped both strong arms around
her hips and rose to his feet, lifting her along with him over the rim of the
bathtub and under the spray of the water.

She
feathered her fingers along his shoulder muscles, loving his power and
strength. Loving the feel of his smooth skin under her fingertips. He lowered
her down. Skin on skin she slid down his body until forced to tilt her head
back. He bent his head and took her mouth in a hot carnal kiss, making her
groan at the force of his passion.

Desire
and lust strummed through her entire body; from the tingle in her toes to the
tip of her scalp. She wanted more--more of him. Summer moaned as his strong
large hands slid down to her ass, cupping and kneading
,,,
before he pulled her tighter against his hard erection stabbing into her softer
lower belly. His ravaging tongue trailed to the corner of her mouth and down
along her chin to her throat. She shivered in his arms as he snaked lower.

"Melor!" she gasped as his hot mouth closed
over her nipple, sucking it deep into the cavern of his mouth. Summer let out a
moan of pleasure. His breathing became heavy as he released her breast with a
soft 'pop'.

He pressed her back onto the tiled walls. The cool of
the smooth ceramic on her skin did nothing to reduce her rising body
temperature. Melor went back to feasting on her breast, rolling the flat of his
tongue over her nipple, slowly letting his mouth slide off before catching the
hardened peak between his teeth. It was hard enough to cause a small level of
pain, which only heightened the pleasure coursing through her; the tug on her
nipple seemed to have a direct invisible line to her clit making it pulse with
each tug. Her breast bounced free of Melor's hot mouth. But before she could
protest the loss of him, he snatched the other breast between his lips,
repeating the process. She stuffed her fist into her mouth, biting down on her
knuckles, trying to hold in her throaty moans.

With one arm supporting her, he leaned back a little
as a hand slid down over the curve of her hip, moving lower to nudge her thighs
apart as large callused fingers threaded through the soft curls at the junction
of her thighs and into her wet weeping heat. Summer jerked in his arms, letting
out a whimper as a long digit slid straight into her pussy while his thumb
flicked over her clit. He gripped her hips, pinning her against the wall as he
slid down her body, the water from the shower beating down on his back. He
trailed open-mouthed kisses under her ribs, over her rounded stomach, nudging
her legs further apart with his shoulders.

"Your leg, tell me if it hurts."

"Uh, yes, I promise. Please don't stop, Melor."
She scarcely felt the small throbbing of her leg over the driving need of her
body.

Melor dipped his head and Summer gave a shuddering
gasp as his tongue stroked over her sensitive bundle of nerves. He laved her
again. Her belly quivered, her hips arched out, seeking more of his tongue. He
gave it to her, spearing into her heat. Summer moaned through her fist. She
undulated, she writhed. She could feel herself rushing towards release as he
sucked on her core.

Then his mouth was gone. Summer whimpered in protest.
She had been close, oh, so close. Her whole body burned with a white-hot fire
for the man on his knees before her.